آشنایی عقل با عقل از صفا ** چون شود هر دم فزون باشد ولا

When from sincerity the friendship of intellect with intellect arises, every moment the devotion is increased;

آشنایی نفس با هر نفس پست ** تو یقین می‌دان که دم دم کمترست 2690

(But) know for sure, the friendship of the carnal soul with any base carnal soul is momently diminished,

زانک نفسش گرد علت می‌تند ** معرفت را زود فاسد می‌کند

Because his carnal soul hovers round disease and soon corrupts the (friendly) acquaintance.

گر نخواهی دوست را فردا نفیر ** دوستی با عاقل و با عقل گیر

If thou dost not wish thy friend to be averse (to thee) on the morrow, take (choose) friendship with the intelligent and with the intellect.

از سموم نفس چون با علتی ** هر چه گیری تو مرض را آلتی

Inasmuch as thou art sick from the simoom of the carnal soul, whatever thou mayst take thou art the instrument for (infecting it with) disease.

گر بگیری گوهری سنگی شود ** ور بگیری مهر دل جنگی شود

If thou take a jewel, it becomes a (common) stone; and if thou take kindness of heart, it becomes a hatred;

ور بگیری نکته‌ی بکری لطیف ** بعد درکت گشت بی‌ذوق و کثیف 2695

And if thou take a fine original saying, after thy apprehension (of it) it has become tasteless and gross—

که من این را بس شنیدم کهنه شد ** چیز دیگر گو بجز آن ای عضد

‘I have heard this many a time; it has become old: tell something else besides this, O trusty friend.’

چیز دیگر تازه و نو گفته گیر ** باز فردا زان شوی سیر و نفیر

Suppose that something else fresh and new has been said, again to-morrow thou art surfeited with it and averse.

دفع علت کن چو علت خو شود ** هرحدیثی کهنه پیشت نو شود

Remove the disease: when the disease is eradicated, every old tale will become new to thee,

تا که از کهنه برآرد برگ نو ** بشکفاند کهنه صد خوشه ز گو

So that it will bring forth new leaves from the old (bough): the old (tale) will cause a hundred clusters to blossom from the ditch.

ما طبیبانیم شاگردان حق ** بحر قلزم دید ما را فانفلق 2700

We are the (spiritual) physicians, the disciples of God: the Red Sea beheld us and was cloven.

آن طبیبان طبیعت دیگرند ** که به دل از راه نبضی بنگرند

Those natural physicians are different, for they look into the heart by means of a pulse.

ما به دل بی واسطه خوش بنگریم ** کز فراست ما به عالی منظریم

We look well into the heart without intermediary, for through clairvoyance we are in a high belvedere.

آن طبیبان غذااند و ثمار ** جان حیوانی بدیشان استوار

Those (others) are physicians of food and fruit: by them the animal soul is (made) strong.

ما طبیبان فعالیم و مقال ** ملهم ما پرتو نور جلال

We are physicians of deeds and words: the ray of the light of (Divine) Majesty is our inspirer,

کین چنین فعلی ترا نافع بود ** و آنچنان فعلی ز ره قاطع بود 2705

(So that we know) that a deed like this will be beneficial to thee, while a deed like that will cut (thee) off from the Way;

اینچنین قولی ترا پیش آورد ** و آنچنان قولی ترا نیش آورد

And that words like these will lead thee on (to grace), while words like those will bring anguish to thee.

آن طبیبان را بود بولی دلیل ** وین دلیل ما بود وحی جلیل

To those (other) physicians a (sample of) urine is evidence, whereas this evidence of ours is the inspiration of the Almighty.

دست‌مزدی می نخواهیم از کسی ** دست‌مزد ما رسد از حق بسی

We do not desire a fee from any one: our fee comes many a time from God.

هین صلا بیماری ناسور را ** داروی ما یک بیک رنجور را

Hark, come hither for the incurable disease! We, one by one, are a medicine for the (spiritually) sick.”

معجزه خواستن قوم از پیغامبران

How the people (of Sabá) demanded miracles from the prophets.

قوم گفتند ای گروه مدعی ** کو گواه علم طب و نافعی 2710

The people said, “O ye company of impostors, where is the evidence of (your) knowledge of medicine and (your) usefulness?

چون شما بسته همین خواب و خورید ** همچو ما باشید در ده می‌چرید

Since ye are in bondage, like us, to this same sleep and food (and) are pasturing in the country—

چون شما در دام این آب و گلید ** کی شما صیاد سیمرغ دلید

Since ye are entrapped by this water and earth, how are ye hunters of the Símurgh (which is) the heart?

حب جاه و سروری دارد بر آن ** که شمارد خویش از پیغامبران

Love of power and dominion induces (a man) to reckon himself amongst the prophets.